Abstract
Helicobacter pylori is the leading bacterial cause of food-borne illness worldwide and plays a major role in the development of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer. Strains isolated from patients contain the cagA gene (cytotoxin-associated gene A) and produce the vacuolating cytotoxin, VacA. Recent molecular and cellular studies of VacA action have begun to unravel its structure and the details of the mechanism of gastric injury caused by H. pylori infection.
MeSH terms
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Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
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Bacterial Proteins / genetics
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Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
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Bacterial Toxins / chemistry
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Bacterial Toxins / genetics
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Bacterial Toxins / metabolism
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Cell Death
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Cytotoxins / chemistry
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Cytotoxins / genetics
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Cytotoxins / metabolism
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Helicobacter Infections / microbiology
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Helicobacter Infections / pathology
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Helicobacter pylori / genetics
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Helicobacter pylori / metabolism
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Helicobacter pylori / pathogenicity*
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Humans
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Peptic Ulcer / microbiology
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Peptic Ulcer / pathology
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Vacuoles / microbiology
Substances
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Bacterial Proteins
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Bacterial Toxins
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Cytotoxins
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VacA protein, Helicobacter pylori